Testimonials

Congressman Steve Israel, 3rd District of New York

Letter received September 2013, from the Honorable, Steve Israel, United States House of Representatives

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Stephany - Baltimore Maryland

"I thought of you last night...it took me 3 and 1/2 hours to get home during the ice storm with the Severn River Bridge closed down. I worked an extra shift Tuesday to just

help out...well...I stopped dead near the Mall/Parole exit for 3 hours!!! Two cars behind me, a mom and her 2 little girls, slid on the ice. Their vehicle went under a truck.

Mom was pinned in and had injuries, one little girl had an asthma attack, they both were crying desperately. Well, I called EMS 3 times and it took 45 minutes to get 2

ambulances driving in the wrong direction on the shoulder to get to us. At one point I was on the phone with EMS and telling them I felt like the lone ranger out there and

needed help. Then you came to my mind and I realized I had 2 teddy bears in the car...a flash of you with Hugs Across America...I nearly hung up on EMS but not till I told

them...get me help out here...all I have are 2 blankets, a first aid kit, found an inhaler for the child having an asthma attack, and, oh yes, 2 teddy bears....I ran to the car

under the truck and gave those 2 little girls the bears...they smiled bigger than life and tears abated! ... they were still clinging to those teddies when they went into the

ambulance!

Please Sue, know that your bears are touching lives out here.

"After this experience, I will never be without bears again. " (from a nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland)

Tracy Taplin, Maryville, IL

Our family just got home after an emotional morning at our church, First Baptist Church of Maryville. How wonderful to meet as a church family and proceed with God’s calling on our lives. As I picked up my preschool son, what a treat to discover that he had been given ‘a bear to hug while Jesus heals’. You know, I think the adults in our home will need that bear, too.

I also teach at our church’s school, Maryville Christian School, and there are going to be hundreds of children and parents who will need hugs throughout our first day back as a school tomorrow. I will be bringing the bear to school with me. Thank you for your ministry. Our family has donated stuffed bears to a child agency in the past, and we are also glad to offer comfort to children we will never meet. I never expected my child to become the recipient of such a bear. God is good-and He is in control, just as He has always been and always will be. God’s peace to you.

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Kendra Payton, Maryville, IL

Just wanting to say thanks for all the bears that were provided to us for our little ones at First Baptist Church, Maryville. I had the privilege of helping hand them out to the kids in our preschool department. They hugged them so tightly and with such joy. The comment cards that we attached to the bears were awesome too. Thank you so much for your support of our church with the bears and prayers. God Bless you all!Kendra

Thank you.

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Stacy and Doug Moody, Troy, IL

We just wanted to thank you very much for the adorable teddy bear that our daughter, Emily, received in Sunday School on March 15th at the First Baptist Church of Maryville. We really appreciate all of the prayers and support that our church family has been shown over this emotionally challenging week as we have lost our beloved pastor and friend. Thank you and God bless!

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United Valley American Red Cross

Hello Sue Lucarelli -

My name is Eric Lynes, I am the Emergency Services Director for the United Valley ARC, located in Lewiston, ME. I want to thank you and the people within Hugs Across America for helping the Red Cross provide a sense of hope ( by way of Teddy Bears) to those who have suffered loss due to a house fire or other disaster. Hard to believe how much a Teddy Bear can lift the spirits of those who have had "a bad day". I want to thank you for the 50 Teddy Bears that you donated and/or provided the United Valley Red Cross. I want to thank you also for providing info on how we might reach out to organizations within our community to help fundraise for Teddy Bears.

The attached is a photo of myself (Eric Lynes) and ARC volunteer Pat Beausang with the Teddy Bears that you provided - Thank you so very much!!!